Steam and water mixing device



NOV. 30, 1943. 1- ADLAM 2,335,250

STEAM AND WATER MIXING DEVICES Filed June 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,6 7g.

INVENTOR. filo/'14s WmmA'om/v BY wfMrW ATTORNEYS Nov. 30, 1943. 1'. N. ADLAM STEAM AND WATER MIXING DEVICES Filed June 20, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ann-10355410 a, an

Patented Nov. 30, 1943 assazso STEAM AND wa'raa mxmo nsvics Thomas Napier Adlam,

signer to Sarco Company,

West Orange, N. 1., as-

Inc.. New York, N. Y.,

a corporation New York Application June 20, 1942, Serial No. 441,154

6 Claims. 236-12) This invention relates to thermostatically controlled devices for mixing steam and water so as to provide a supply of hot water at a substantially constant predetermined temperature, and the invention has particular reference to a device 0! the indicated character including means for shutting oil and maintaining the steam supply closed when the water suPPLY is closed so as to prevent the delivery of steam or scalding hot water in the event of failure of the cold water supply and to avoid rupture of the thermostatic element by overheating the same.

The invention comprehends a mixing device of the aforesaid character which includes steam and water supply valves ior admitting steam andwater to a mixing chamber in which is arranged thermostatic means connected with the steam supply valve for regulating the flow of steam to the mixing chamber so as to provide a supply oi hot water at a substantially constant temperature in accordance with a predetermined temperature setting of the thermostatic means and means actuated by the pressure diflerential on opposite sides 01' the water supply valve for shutting of! the flow oi steam to the mixing chamber when the water supply valve closes and for maintaining the steam supply in closed relation when the water supply is closed.

Another object in view is the provision of means located within the mixing chamber for diffusing and breaking up the steam into finely divided sprays as the same is fed into the said chamber so as to rapidly mix and blend with the water for quickly heating the same.

A iurther object disposing the said thermostatic means within the mixing chamber at the opposite end from the steam and water inlet with the free end portion of said means surrounded by a tubular baffle so as to prevent contact of the steam and water therewith as the same enters the mixing chamber and which baille defines within the mixing chamber a circuitous passageway for the hot water which causes the same to contact with the said thermostatic means at the end of the chamber remote from the said steam and water inlet.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a thermostatically controlled steam and water mixing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

of the invention resides in Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the water supply valve.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the casing defining the mixing chamber.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the steam diflusing element taken approximately on the line 1-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side'view oi the diflusing element.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the auxiliary diaphragm valve.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the thermostatic means with parts broken away and shown in section and showing the same connected with the steam supply valve which is shown in section.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the steam supply valve taken approximately on the line 8-8 0! Fig. I.

Referring to the drawings by characters of relerence, the mixing device includes a casing ill defining a mixing chamber II and having steam and water inlets i2 and i3 opening into the mixing chamber and which are connected by suitable piping il and I! to steam and water supply valves l6 and H for admitting steam and cold water to the mixing chamber where the same are mixed together so as to provide a supply of hot water which is discharged from the casing through the hot water outlet It.

The steam supply valve I6 is controlled by thermostatic means indicated generally by the reference character it for regulating the flow of steam to the mixing chamber in accordance with the requirement ior hot water and the said supply valve i8 is also controlled by an auxiliary diaphragm valve 20 connected with the water supply on opposite sides 0! the valve element 0! the water supply valve I! for shutting oil and maintaining the steam supply closed when the water supply is closed so as to prevent the delivery at steam or scalding hot water in the event oi iailure oi the cold water supply and to avoid rupture of the thermostatic element by overheating the same.

The steam supply valve includes a valve body provided with inlet and outlet openings II and 22 and having a valve port 23 which defines a valve seat 24 and mounted for movement towards and away from said seat is a valve disk 25 carried by a valve stem 26 having its free end protruding through a guide opening 21 in the valve body. The valve disk 25 is normally maintained in closed relation upon the valve seat 24 by means of a coiled expansion spring 28 interposed between the outer lace of the valve disk and a removable cap 23 threadediy engaged in an opening 80 in the valve body in alignment with the said valve port. The valve disk 25 is moved away from the valve seat 24 against the action of the spring 28 by the movement of a diaphragm 3| located in a chamber 32 of a diaphragm head 33 threadedly connected with a tubular extension 34 of the valve body.

The diaphragm 3| divides the chamber 32 into upper and lower compartments 35 and 36, the upper compartment 35 communicating with a central bore 31 in axial alignment with the valve port 23, and located in said bore for longitudinal reciprocatory movement in a spindle 38 interposed between the free end of the valve stem 28 and the upper face of the diaphragm 3|. A coiled expansion spring 39 surrounds the spindie 33 and is disposed between the headed outer end I of the spindle and a bearing plug 42 through which the inner end of the spindle pro- J'ects and which spring maintains the head 4| of the spindle in engagement with the diaphragm 3|.

The outer compartment 36 has communication with the steam supply on the inlet side of the valve port 23 through a conduit 43 threadedly engaged in openings N and 45 leading respectively to said compartment 38 and to a chamber formed in a tubular boss 41 of the valve body and which chamber opens into said steam supply through a needle valve l3. The chamber 46 also communicates with the outlet side of the valve port -23 through a vent passage 49. The needle valve 43 is controlled by the thermostatic means I! to admit steam into the chamber 46 and thence into the compartment 36 through the conduit 43 for forcing the diaphragm 3| upwardly thereby moving the spindle 38 into engagement with the valve stem 26 so as to raise the valve disk 25 from its seat. Upon the functioning of the thermostatic means l9 to close the needle valve 48, the steam pressure in the chamber 36 is dissipated through the vent passage 43 and the steam pressure in the com partment 38 is dissipated through the auxiliary valve 2iias hereinafter explained, thus permitting retraction of the diaphragm 3| by the expansion spring 39 and the movement of the valve disk 25 towards its seat by the action of the spring 23.

The water supply valve i1 is of the adjustable check valve type and admits water to the mixing chamber ll through a valve port 50, the valve spring 5| thereof functioning to move the valve disk 52 to close the said port when the pressure on the outlet side of the said port equals the pressure on the inlet side thereof.

In order to automatically shut off the supply of steam to the mixing chamber from the steam supply valve I6 when the water supply valve H closes and to maintain the steam supply valve in closed relation when the water supply valve Is closed. the auxiliary diaphragm valve 23 is in-.

terposed in the conduit line 33, the upper section thereof leading from the chamber 46 to the inlet 54 in the auxiliary diaphragm valve 20 and the lower section of said conduit leading from the outlet 55 of the said auxiliary diaphragm valve to the lower compartment 36 of the diaphragm head 33 of the steam supply valve IS.

The auxiliary diaphragm valve 20 includes aligned valve seats defining ports 56 and 51, the former being arranged at the inner end of the assaaso inlet Ill and the latter extending through an opening in the partition 33 of the auxiliary valve body. The valve ports 56 and 61 are controlled by a double faced valve element 39 secured to the upper end of a valve stem 6|! mounted for reciprocatory movement to thereby move the said valve element towards and away from the valve ports 56 and 51 respectively. A coiled expansion spring 6| interposed between the cap 62 of theauxiliary valve body and the peripheral flange 63 of the valve element 63 maintains the lower end of the stem 60 in seated engagement with the diaphragm 64 in the diaphragm head 65 carried by the auxiliary valve body.

The diaphragm G4 is disposed in a, chamber 51 in the said head 65 and divides the said chamber into upper and lower compartments 6B and 69, the upper compartment 68 being in communication by mean's of piping 13 with the inlet side ill of the water supply valve l1 and the lower compartment 63 being in communication with the outlet side of the water supply valve by means of piping H. A coiled expansion spring 12 is arranged in the lower compartment 63 between the underside of the diaphragm 64 and the lower end of the diaphragm head 65. The said spring 12 exerts a tension on the diaphragm 64 in opposition to the spring BI and in opposition to the water pressure in the impe com partment 63 connected with the inlet side of the water supply valve ll.

The upper and lower compartments 63 and 69 being thus filled with water under pressure from the opposite sides of the valve port 60 of the water supply valve i1, the diaphragm 64 between said compartments will be moved in accordance with the pressures exerted on opposite sides thereof. Thus when the valve disk 52 is in closed relation upon the valve port iii, the water pressure on cppomte sides of the said valve port and on the opposite sides of the diaphragm N will be substantially equal so that the spring 12 functions to move the diaphragm Blyto close the valve port 56 to thereby shut off the flow of steam through the conduit 43 leading to the lower compartment 36 of the steam supply valve l6 and thus effect a closing of the valve port 23 thereof and a. shutting off of the flow of steam to the mixing chamber. When hot water is drawn from the mixing chamber which efiects a reduction of pressure in the water on the outlet side of the water supply valve l'l, a corresponding reduction in pressure takes place in the lower compartment 69 of the diaphragm head 65 of the auxiliary valve 23 to thereby move the diaphragm E4 downwardly against the action of the spring 72 which, in this instance, serves as a, bullet against the greater water pressure exerted above the diaphragm. The downward movement of the diaphragm 64 permits the spring 6| to move the valve element 58 downwardly so as to open the valve port 53 thus allowing the flow of steam pressure through the conduit 43 and into the lower compartment 36 of the steam supply valve l6, thus moving the diaphragm 3| thereof upwardly and the valve disk 25 away from the valve port 23 so as to open the said port for the passage of steam through the said supply valve i6 and into the mixing chamber.

The auxiliary diaphragm valve 20 is provided with a relief outlet 14 on the opposite side of the partition 58 from the outlet 55 thereof and said relief outlet communicates through a conduit 15 with the outlet side 22 of the steam supassasso ply valve I I. It is apparent that when the valve element 88 of the said auxiliary diaphragm valve 88 is moved so as to close the inlet port 88 thereof. the port 81 will be in open relation to permit oi the venting of the steam pressure in the lower compartment es of the diaphragm head 88 of the steam supply valve I8 through the said valve port 81 and thence through the relief outlet I 4 to the outlet side of the steam supply valve I8. When the inlet port 58 of the auxiliary diaphragm valve 28 is opened, the valve element 58 closes the valve port 51 to prevent steam pressure being dissipated through the relief port It.

The thermostatic element I8 includes a valve plunger 16 which is mounted in a bushing 11 threadedly engaged in the tubular boss I! of the valve body for reciprocatory movement towards and away from the needle valve 48 and which plunger is provided with a conical. shaped free end 18 adapted to engage the seat of the needle valve 48 for closing the same. The valve plunger 18 is provided with a collar 18 and interposed between the collar and the inner end of the needle valve in surrounding relation with the protruding end of the plunger 18 is a coiled expansion spring 88 which functions to normally retain the plunger in retracted position out of engagement with the valve seat.

The valve plunger 18 is projected into engagement with the valve seat of the needle valve 48 by means of the expansion of a thermal fluid acting upon a. piston head 8i carried by a piston rod 82 which rod protrudes through the aperture 88 in the head 88 of a tubular shell 85 so as to dispose the free end of the said rod in axial alignment with the plunger 18 for engagement with the outer end thereof.

Located within the tubular shell 85 in spaced relation thereto is an expansihle and contractible tube 88 secured at one end to the head 84 oi the said tubular shell 85 and at its opposite end to the piston head 8i which provides a sealing means enclosing the piston rod 82.

The tubular shell 85 is in communication through a conduit 81 with a thermostatic element consisting of a control bulb 88 and a regulating head 88 and the said element is secured in an opening 98 in the lower end of the casing I8 to dispose the control bulb 88 in inwardly projecting relation in the lower end of the mixing chamber. The control bulb 88 includes a tubular shell 8i having a closed free end 82 and an apertured inner end '83 to which is secured an expansibl'e and contractile sealing tube 84 arranged within the shell in spaced relation with the wall thereof and having its free end closed by a head 85 to which is secured an adjusting rod 88 located within the sealing tube 88 and projecting through the aperture 81 in the inner end 83.

The regulating head 88 of the thermostatic element is provided with a relief spring 88 which is interposed between the free end of the adjusting rod 88 and an adjusting screw 88 in the end of the head 88 which screw is adapted to be turned in opposite directions by a key engaging the projecting end I88 thereof for moving the adjusting rod 88 longitudinally of the tubular shell ill so as to extend or contract the sealing tube 88 to thereby vary the space between the free end of the shell ill and the head 85 of the sealing tube 94.

The space between the sealing tube 88 and the tubular shell 85, as well as the conduit 81, and the space between the sealing tube 94 and the tubular shell It. being filled with the thermal fluid, any increase or decrease in the temperature oi the mixed water in the mixing chamber iI will effect a corresponding expansion or contraction of the thermal fluid to thereby control the needle valve 48 so as to regulate the admission of steam into the mixing chamber through the steam supply valve It to thereby provide a continuous supply of hot water at the discharge outlet I8 of the mixing chamber at a substantially constant temperature .in accordance with a predetermined temperature setting of the adjusting screw 88.

The casing I8 is provided with a tubular bailie I82 threadedly engaged at its upper end in an opening I88 in a partition I84 surrounding the discharge outlet I8 and which baflle depends in surrounding relation with the major portion of the control bulb 88 so as to prevent contact of the steam and water therewith as the same enter the mixing chamber. the bailie further defining within themixing chamber a circuitous passageway ior the hot water which causes the water to contact with the control bulb 88 at the end of the mixing chamber remote from the steam and water inlet. The tubular shell 8| is provided with a deflector I85 extending spirally about the outer face thereof adjacent the lower end of the tubular baiiie I82 .for imparting a swirling motion to the vhot water as the same passes through the tubular baiile so as to more evenly heat the tubular shell 8i.

Steam from the-steam supply valve i6 enters the mixing chamber II through a valve port I81 in the upper end thereof which is closed by a valve disk I88 carried by a valve rod I88. The said valve rod is slidable in a guide opening in a spider-1180f a nipple I II threadedly engaged in the lower end of a tubular skirt III surrounding the valve port I81. A coiled expansion spring i is disposed between the valve disk I88 and the spidier H8 in surrounding relation to the valve rod I89 functions to normally maintain the valve disk in closed relation.

In order to provide means for diffusing and breaking up the steam into line sprays as the same is mixed with the water in the mixing chamber, a series of apertured disks H5 are provided which are disposed in stacked formation on a tubular core IIG secured at its upper end in the nipple III. The said tubular care has a closed lower end I l1 and removably secured thereto is a clamping washer i I8 impinged against the lowermost disk H5 for securing the disk in stacked formation on the core between the nipple III and the said clamping washer.

The tubular core H8 is formed with circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending slots 8 and each alternate disk is provided with circumferentially spaced radially extending flutes defining on the opposite faces thereof steam outlet pasages I28 which are preferably of a iew thousands of an inch in depth.

It is to be understood that the steam and water supply valves l8 and I1 and the auxiliary valve 28 may be .set to accommodate steam and water at any desired relative pressures, the steam pressure being suificiently in excess of the water pressure to effect rapid mixing of the steam with the water and a corresponding rapid heating of the water so that a continuous supply of hot water at a predetermined temperature may be withdrawn from the mixing device.

It will also be apparent from the foregoing that the steam supply valve I8 is maintained in closed relation when the water supply valve I1 is closed and during any failure oi the water supply the spring 12 functions to close the auxiliary valve to thereby close the steam supply valve and cut on the flow of steam to the mixing chamber. The shutting oi! oi the delivery of steam to the mixing chamber when the flow or water thereto has been cut oi! prevents the delivery 01 steam or scalding hot water from the mixing chamber which would scald or injure a person using the same and which also prevents rupture oi the thermostatic element by the overheating thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for mixing steam and water to provide a hot water supp y. a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having steam pressure actuated means for moving the valve element thereof in one direction, thermostatic means for controlling the supply of steam to said steam pressure actuated means to thereby control the steam supply valve so as to regulate the flow of steam to the mixing chamber, and means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the said pressure actuated means by the steam pressure diflerential on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for maintaining the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

2. In a device for mixing steam and water to provide a hot water supply, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element of the steam supply valve for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, said diaphragm being moved in one direction by steam pressure from the steam supply line, thermostatic means for controlling the flow of steam to said diaphragm from said steam supply line to thereby control the steam supply valve so as to regulate the flow of steam to the mixing chamber, and means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the flow of steam to said diaphragm by the pressure differential on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve to thereby maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

3. In a device of the indicated character, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element or said steam suppLv valve for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm. an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply valve for admitting steam pressure to the diaphragm for A of the auxiliary valve for moving moving the same in assure moving the same in one direction. the thermostatic means for regulating the now or steam through said auxiliary steam line to thereby regulate the flow or steam to the mixing chamber, an auxiliary valve having a valve element interposed in said auxiliary steam line, and means for controlling the valve element or said auxiliary valve to thereby shut off the flow or steam to the diaphragm oi the steam supply valve when the water supply valve is closed so as to maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

4. In a device of the indicated character, 0. casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element or said steam supply valve for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply valve for admitting steam pressure to the diaphragm for moving the same in one direction, an auxiliary valve having a valve element interposed in said auxiliary steam line, and means connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the valve element of said auxiliary valve to thereby shut oil the flow or steam to the diaphragm of the steam supply valve when the water supply valve is closed so as to maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supp y valve is closed.

5. In a device or the indicated character, a casing providing a mixing chamber and having steam and water inlets and a hot water outlet, steam and water supply valves having movable valve elements for regulating the opening and, closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element of said steam supply valve for the diaphragm,

line, said auxiliary valve having a diaphragm and means associated therewith engaging the valve element thereof for moving the same in response to the movement of the diaphragm, and conduits connected with the water supply on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve and establishing communication with the opposite sides of the diaphragm the diaphragm thereof in response to pressure differential in the water on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve to thereby close said auxiliary steam line when the water supply valve is closed so as to maintain the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

closing of ports through which the steam and water pass respectively to the mixing chamber, said steam supply valve having pressure actuaated means for moving the valve element thereof in one direction, an auxiliary steam line connected with the inlet side of said steam supply valve for controlling the said pressure actuated means, an auxiliary valve having a valve element interposed in said auxiliary steam line, and-means connected with the water supply on opposite sides 0! the valve element of the water supply valve for controlling the valve element of said auxiliary valve to thereby shut off the flow of steam in the auxiliary steam line by the pressure differential on opposite sides of the valve element of the water supply valve for maintaining the steam supply valve closed when the water supply valve is closed.

THOMAS NAPIER ADLAM. 

